Space acquisition on the mend

From: Allen Thomson (thomsona_at_flash.net)
Date: 08/25/04 

Date: 25 Aug 2004 14:47:41 -0700

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A30323-2004Aug24?language=printer

 Report Says Air Force's Space Programs Improved
 By Renae Merle
 Washington Post Staff Writer
 Wednesday, August 25, 2004; Page E02
 [EXCERPTS]

  The Air Force's management of its space programs has
  improved during the past year but some systems, including an
  early warning missile contract, will continue to need special
  attention, according to an advisory panel review released
  yesterday.

  The review by the Task Force on Acquisition of National
  Security Space Programs updates a 2003 report that determined
  that a decade of underfunding and unrealistic cost estimates
  had helped lead to "significant, systemic problems" with the
  nation's space programs, many of which faced technical problems,
  fell behind schedule and went over budget.

  Since the original report was issued, the government's primary
  focus has returned to making sure the programs are successful
  instead of keeping costs low, and improvements have been made
  in obtaining independent cost estimates, according to a summary
  of the review. "We were quite pleased with the progress we
  observed," said A. Thomas Young, chairman of the task force.

[snip]

  The space task force found that while action had been taken
  on most of its recommendations, more needed to be done. Most
  programs still lack enough money set aside in reserve to cover
  unexpected costs, according to the review. The inadequate
  reserves prevent "timely resolution of problems that emerge
  on every development program," resulting in higher costs and
  missed deadlines, the review said.

  The task force also found that Boeing's spy satellite program,
  known as the Future Imagery Architecture, and Lockheed
  Martin's Space-Based Infrared-High satellite program, an early
  warning system for incoming missiles, will continue to need
  special attention. Both programs were developed in the 1990s
  when budget cuts encouraged ill-fated acquisition reform,
  Young said. There were "a lot of problems inherited from the
  flawed policies and practices with unintended consequences of
  the '90s," he said.

  Last year's report found that as originally structured the
  spy satellite program was "not executable" and was underfunded
  and technically flawed. "The Task Force found that progress on
  the . . . program was more positive than expected," the review
  said. But the restructured program "could still have issues
  requiring special attention and the program needs to be
  carefully monitored."

  The panel also noted improvements in Lockheed's satellite
  program after last year's report found it lacked experienced
  personnel. Still, the latest review said Lockheed's "optimistic
  test program and software development schedules are a worry"
  and could have an impact on the project's success.

  In a statement, Lockheed said its satellite program was
  conceived at a time when cost and schedule drove decisions.
  "Unfortunately, those procurement policies led to some
  challenging problems for a very complex program that uses
  some extremely unique technologies," spokesman Thomas J.
  Jurkowsky said in a statement.

Relevant Pages